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Edition: 12:09:01
Managing Daily Activities
Energy Conservation and Work Efficiency
By Barbara Jackson, B.Sc.O.T., O.T. Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist, Oncology Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
LIVING BETTER
A diagnosis of Lung Cancer may result in a variety of symptoms
such as shortness of breath, limited activity tolerance, and fatigue.
These symptoms may, in turn, impact on your lifestyle – your ability
to carry out normal, day-to-day routines such as looking after
yourself – getting washed, getting dressed, managing basic
homemaking tasks, working or enjoying leisure activities with
family and friends.
Understanding energy conservation principles and implementing
appropriate strategies can assist you in managing some of these
symptoms, and achieve that delicate balance between rest and
activity, enabling you to participate in those activities which you
enjoy and which are meaningful to you.
Getting Started – Understanding your abilities
Table of Contents
Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lung Cancer Report Card . . . . . . . . . 2
Story of Hope: Gina Machado . . . . . 3
Info Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Lung Health Framework. . . . . . . . . . 4
Asbestos Ban? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Patient’s Guide Order Form . . . . . . . 5
You Can Help Make a Difference. . . 6
1. Examine Your Lifestyle – “walk” through a typical day for you
and itemize those activities which you find difficult or which
tend to increase your symptoms. For example:
• getting up from a low surface such as a chair, toilet,
bed or sofa
• bending to reach low surfaces or to get dressed
• standing or walking for any period of time
2. Identify Problem Activities – review and try to find a common
theme. For example:
• getting up from any surface lower than ___ inches.
• any bending activity, or activity which limits your lung
expansion
• standing or walking for longer than ___minutes
• any activity which causes you to hurry
• specific times during the day when you feel more tired or
when the activities seem more difficult
Continued on page 6
Medical Advisory Panel
Dr. Natasha Leighl,
Chair,
Medical Oncologist,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Jason Agulnik,
Respirologist,
Montreal, Quebec
Dr. Gywn Bebb,
Medical Oncologist,
Calgary, Alberta
Dr. W. K. (Bill) Evans,
Medical Oncologist,
Hamilton, Ontario
Dr. Michael Johnston,
Thoracic Surgeon,
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dr. Stephen Lam,
Respirologist,
Vancouver, British Columbia
Dr. Yee Ung,
Radiation Oncologist,
Toronto, Ontario
Honourary Board Members
Dr. Frances Shepherd,
Princess Margaret Hospital,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Gail E. Darling,
Toronto General Hospital,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. W. K. (Bill) Evans,
Cancer Care Ontario,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Margaret Fitch,
Odette Cancer Centre,
Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre,
Toronto, Ontario
Ralph Gouda,
Past President,
Lung Cancer Canada,
Toronto, Ontario
Board of Directors 2008
Morty Sacks,
President,
Lung Cancer Canada ,
C.E.O., M.N. Sacks and Assoc.,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Gywn Bebb,
Medical Oncologist,
Translational Research Unit,
Tom Baker Cancer Centre,
Assist. Professor of Medicine,
University of Calgary,
Calgary, Alberta
David Benoliel,
VP, CX Digital Media,
Toronto, Ontario
Catherine Black,
Retired Executive,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. W. K. (Bill) Evans,
President,
Juravinski Cancer Centre,
Hamilton, Ontario
Senior Medical Advisor,
Cancer Care Ontario,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Michael R. Johnston,
Thoracic Surgeon,
QEII Health Science Centre,
Professor of Surgery,
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dr. Natasha Leighl,
Medical Oncologist,
Princess Margaret Hospital,
Toronto, Ontario
Peter F. MacKenzie,
Retired Executive,
Toronto, Ontario
Joel Rubinovich,
Chartered Accountant,
Rubinovich Shoib,
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Yee Ung,
Radiation Oncologist,
Odette Cancer Centre,
Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre,
Department of Radiation
Oncology,
University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
E.K. (Ted) Weir,
Counsel, McMillan LLP
Toronto, Ontario
Magdalene Winterhoff,
Oncology Social Worker,
Odette Cancer Centre,
Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre,
Toronto, Ontario
Lung Cancer Report Card
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY STATS - 2009
Lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer for both men
(28.3%) and women (26.3%). (p. 11)
The estimated deaths for Lung Cancer are still greater than
for Prostate, Breast and Colorectal combined.
“Lung cancer incidence may be leveling off among women
with an estimated 10,700 new cases being diagnosed in 2009
(approximately 600 fewer than in 2008). However, lung
cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality
among women with an estimated 9,400 deaths occurring in
2009 (approximately 200 more than in 2008).”
“Lung cancer will remain the leading cause of cancer death in
Canadian men in 2009; the estimated 11,200 lung cancer
deaths far exceed the 4,900 deaths due to colorectal cancer,
the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Prostate
cancer is third in mortality, causing 4,400 deaths.” (p. 11)
Lung cancer incidence rates are highest in Quebec and lowest
in British Columbia among men. Nova Scotia is predicted to
have the highest rate of lung cancer among women. (p.15)
During the course of his lifetime, one in 11.4 men will develop
lung cancer and one in 12.6 will die from it.
During the course of her lifetime, one in 15.7 women will
develop lung cancer and one in 18.4 will die from it.
LIFETIME PROBABILITY OF DEVELOPING OR DYING OF CANCER
MALES
DEVELOPING
DYING
FEMALES
Lung
8.8%
8.0%
Lung
6.4%
5.4%
Prostate
13.6%
3.7%
Breast
11.1%
3.6%
Colorectal
7.4%
3.7%
Colorectal
6.5%
3.3%
pp. 54-55
All statistics from Canadian Cancer Society’s Steering Committee:
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2009. Toronto: Canadian Cancer Society, 2009.
Contact Information
Lung Cancer Canada
1896A Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5M 3Z8
416-785-3439 (Toronto) 1-888-445-4403 (Toll-free)
416-785-2905 (Fax)
www.lungcancercanada.ca [email protected]
Charitable Registration Number: 872775119 RR0001
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• Lung Cancer Connection •
DEVELOPING DYING
Story of Hope: Gina Machado
MIRACULOUS RECOVERY “TWICE”
Around the end of 2002
Gina Machado started
feeling pain in the chest
as well as coughing.
She also had one lymph node removed. Following
treatment which started in June 2003 she was relatively
fine and this was the first miracle.
A new set-back occurred at the the beginning of December
2003, with very strong dizzy spells which forced her to be
taken to Scarborough Hospital. This hospital admitted her
but immediately contacted and sent her to Sunnybrook
Hospital, where she was diagnosed with brain cancer. At
Sunnybrook she had 10 sessions of radiation in January
2004 to treat the secondary cancer in the brain. By the end
of treatment the cancer in the brain was gone and this was
the second miracle.
She visited her family Doctor
who mentioned it is from
smoking. She also went to
walk in clinics twice, got
some antibiotics, but no one
agreed to have an x-ray taken.
On January 2003, she decided
to go to the emergency
department at Sunnybrook
Hospital.
She continued to see Dr. Ung regularly until November
2008 when he announced to her “so we can say Gina is
cured” and can be seen only once a year.
After thorough examination, x-ray and other tests, she was
told she may have lung cancer stage 3. She was referred to
Dr. Yee Ung, Radiation Oncologist who requested more
tests and by March it was confirmed that she had lung
cancer. Gina's first reaction was that she did not want to go
home. However, luckily enough she also did not want to
give up and was determined to fight and live.
Gina quit smoking from day one in 2003, she exercises and
goes for long walks regularly and is
definitely leading a normal life free
from cancer.
Special admiration is due to Gina's
daughter, her twin sister and her
brother-in-law. Congratulations to our
champion survivor, who is an incredible
lady. We wish her continued good health and happiness.
A treatment of 36 radiation sessions and chemotherapy
were preformed. She obviously had great difficulty with
the reaction of the chemotherapy but her determination
helped her overcome all the inconveniences.
Info Sheets
Lung Cancer Canada Information Sheets are available.
Please call the Lung Cancer Canada office to order the following info sheets:
• Questions to Ask Your Oncologist When You've Been Diagnosed
With Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer and the Use of Oxygen Therapy
• How to Prepare for Lung Cancer Surgery When You Smoke
• Nutrition and Lung Cancer
• For Patients and Caregivers: Coping and Emotional Support
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Is a Ban on Asbestos Coming?
The use of asbestos for residential and industrial construction has been banned in Canada for several years. Readers
will no doubt be aware that inhaling asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases. As
far as we know developed countries have the same ban in effect. Lung Cancer Canada continues to support this ban.
A Private Members Bill has recently been introduced in Parliament to ban the mining of asbestos in Canada.
Unfortunately this is likely to be a lengthy process. In the meantime asbestos is being mined in Canada and exported
to certain countries in the developing world where it is being used in construction. Regrettably, in these countries, the
controls and standards regarding the use and handling of asbestos by workers may not be sufficient to prevent them
from inhaling loose particles of the substance.
It is our fervent hope that countries currently importing asbestos will understand the devastating effects on workers
handling it and introduce a ban prohibiting its importation and use in residential and industrial construction.
Show your support for this bill by signing the online petition at: http://www.rightoncanada.ca/take_action/
Lung Health Framework
As reported in the September 2007 edition of our
Newsletter Lung Cancer Canada is a member of the
Interim Steering Committee and on the Executive
Committee of the National Lung Health Framework.
Through the leadership of the Canadian Lung
Association who initiated this important effort
interested stakeholders from across Canada have
participated. This will lead to a coordinated
approach to prevent and manage respiratory
diseases in Canada.
An announcement was made in Ottawa on April 23,
2009 by the Federal Health Minister Leona
Aglukkaq to provide $10 million in funding, over
three years, to launch the National Lung Health
Framework Action Plan.
The announcement of funding is excellent news for
the six million Canadians suffering from lung
cancer, COPD, sleep apnea and other respiratory
diseases. Everyone in Canada is at risk for
respiratory disease- this makes lung health the
business of every Canadian, and every policy maker,
nationwide. This investment will allow work to
begin immediately on critical projects and research
that will help Canadians to breathe more easily.
The 10 million is a first step- the total cost of the
National Health Framework is $150 million over five
years. Work will continue with the federal
government to secure additional funding because
Canadians need long-term action and health care
reform to improve breathing conditions.
The main points of the Framework are:
• To build awareness and education campaigns
designed to engage Canadians on the whats, the
whens and the hows of managing, treating and
preventing lung disease.
• Health promotion and awareness are key to
ensuring we lower hospital and emergency room
visits.
• Vulnerable populations need accessible
information and programs designed to lower
their risks of lung disease. The lung Health
Framework will do that by engaging trusted
stakeholders to build education and
programming pieces that will make a real
difference in the lives of those living with lung
disease.
• The National Lung Health Framework combines
the best aspects of our health care system with a
more aggressive health promotion strategy:
collaborating among health practitioners,
utilizing best practices, building 21st century
infrastructure to ensure knowledge is shared
nationwide, educating the Canadian public, and
working with other health strategies and
partners to ensure public policy options and
investments are in line with protecting the lung
health of Canadians.
Lung Cancer Canada recognizes how important this
initiative is to the lives of Canadians nationwide and
will continue to contribute as work continues.
• Lung Cancer Connection • 4
English & French
second edition
now available
FREE to patients
and caregivers.
Booklet Order Form
“A Patient's Guide to Lung Cancer” is a Lung Cancer Canada
publication designed to meet the educational needs of lung cancer
patients and their family. English and French second edition now available.
To order your copy today please complete and return this order form to Lung Cancer Canada.
English ______________
French _______________
Please specify the quantity
FREE FOR INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
I. NUMBER OF BOOKS ORDERED _________________________ @$5.00 each = ___________________ (Total Cost)
II. PAYMENT INFORMATION
VISA
MASTERCARD
Canada and send to the mailing address below)
CHEQUE (Please make cheque payable to Lung Cancer
III. FOR PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD
Name of Card Holder: _________________________________ Credit Card Number: _____________________________
Expiry Date: __________________________________________ Signature:_______________________________________
IV. MAILING INFORMATION
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________
City/Province: ________________________________________________ Postal Code:______________________________
Telephone: _______________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________
You are:
Patient
Caregiver
Healthcare Professional
If you are a healthcare professional please indicate your title and the name of your hospital, treatment centre
or cancer support organization.
Hospital/Treatment Centre/ Cancer Support Organization: _________________________________________
Professional Title: _______________________________________________ Date:_________________________
Lung Cancer Canada – 1896A Avenue Road, Toronto, ON M5M 3Z8 • [email protected]
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• Lung Cancer Connection •
Managing Daily Activities... continued from page 1
c) Consider the best time of the day for you to carry out
a task, including social activities and visiting with
friends.
d) Incorporate rest periods – frequent, shorter rests
during activities are of greater benefit than fewer,
longer rest periods. Learn your tolerance for sitting,
standing or walking.
What Might Help?
1. Alter your Environment
a) If surfaces are too low, consider using an extra
cushion on a favourite chair or in the car.
b) Try to use chairs with armrests.
c) Elevate the chair or sofa with blocks.
d) Install a hand-held shower so you can control the
direction of the water. Some people find the
constant stream of water from a fixed shower head
increases their feeling of breathlessness.
e) Organize drawers or storage areas so that frequently
used items are within easy reach.
4. Set Priorities
Look at your activities for the day and put them in order
of importance. Only you can make the decision about
what your priorities will be.
5. Pace Yourself
Allow sufficient time to complete a task or activity.
Avoid rushing.
2. Utilize Self-Care Equipment
a) Elevate a low toilet with a raised toilet seat with
armrests, or install a comfort-height, energyefficient model. A toilet frame or wall-mounted
safety bar are other options to consider if the seat
height is adequate.
b) Shower from an adjustable height bath chair or
bench, set at an appropriate height for you. While
washing, sitting is easier and safer for you and your
caregiver.
6. Eliminate Unnecessary Tasks
a) Plan ahead, organize supplies or work space to
reduce extra trips
b) Minimize stair climbing- store items on the same
floor on which they will be used most often.
Complete tasks on one floor before going
downstairs/upstairs.
7. Modify your routines gradually
Start easily. Try to do a little more each day. If you are
tired or not feeling well after a change, do a little less
for a day or so.
3. Plan and Organize daily or weekly schedules
a) Plan each day to include only what you can
realistically accomplish. Try to recognize your abilities
and limitations. Stop before you become too tired or
short of breath.
b) Alternate heavy tasks, or those requiring more
energy, with light tasks.
Utilizing energy conservation principles and strategies is
essentially a common sense approach to living. It will help
you to maintain control over your life and activities, rather
than the symptoms deciding what you can and cannot do.
Donation Card
You can help make a difference...
For a donation by Visa or MasterCard, please complete the following information and mail it to the address shown below.
Visa
MasterCard
Name of card holder: _______________________________________ Card Number: __________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________ Exp:___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________________
Phone: (
) ______________________________________________ Amount $
For a donation by cheque, please make cheque payable to Lung Cancer Canada and mail it to the address below:
1896A Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5M3Z8
416-785-3439 • 1-888-445-4403
All donations are greatly appreciated. A tax receipt is issued for an amount of $25.00 or more.
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